Coat hanger



March 27; 1945 ALL T w 2,372,458

COAT HANGER F iled Sepf. 9, 1944 Patented Mar. 27, 1945 OFFICE COAT HANGER 7 Alma 'LucilleTewell, Greenwich, Conn.

ApplicationSeptember 9, 1944, Serial No. 553,400

4 Claims.

This invention relates to garment hangers, and

more particularly to devicesof this nature which are convertible to adapt them for use with garments of different kinds.

, It is the present practice to employ several different types of hangers for hanging garments in closets or wardrobes. For ladies dresses, a relatively small, light wooden hanger, or the wellknown wire hanger formed from a single piece of wire bent toshape, is used. for the more bulky mens garments, such as suits and coats, a heavier wooden hanger is used which is wider to support the greater shoulder breadth, and which is thicker, with rounded ends to enter and hold the upper sleeve in its proper contour. Ladies skirts are supported in makeshift fashion on any of these hangers, sometimes, by using the simple expeclient of fastening safety pins about the cross-bar of the hanger.

The object of the present invention is to provide a garment hanger composed of several sections which may be assembled or disassembled at will to meet the need of the particular garment to be hung.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind wherein the assembly of the final part forms a lock to prevent the accidental displacement of the parts when in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device wherein certain of the interlocking structures may be utilized for hanging garments of certain types.

Other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification, and throughout the several figures of which the same characters of reference are used to denote identical parts.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the improved garment hanger embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the enlarged removable end extension shown in Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the embodiment shown comprises a basic hanger I, removable end extensions 2 and 3, and a crossbar 4.

The basic hanger I is quite similar in size and contour to the light wooden hanger now in use. It is formed of wood or other suitable material, and comprises a central portion 5 and the outwardly extending, downwardly curving garment supporting arms 6 and 1. A hook 8 is secured to the central portion to provide means to suspend the device from a rack or other support. The arms 6 and l are provided with notches 9 and I0, formed in the upper surfaces of the arms near their outer ends at the points where the arms begin to curve sharply downward. g

The basic hanger is complete in itself, and is of the proper size and shape to support a dress or like garment. The notches 9v and in form hook-like members to engage and hold the hanging-loops of skirts or other apparel which is provided with similar loops.

To increase the breadth of the hanger to adapt it for use with mens suits, the end extensions 2 and 3 are provided. They are recessed on their inner faces, as at H and I2, to provide seats into which the ends of the arms of the basic hanger will snugly fit. The inner walls of the recesses are preferably curved to exactly match the outer curvature of the ends of the basic hanger. The recesses are undercut, as at I3 and [4, to form hook-like members l5 and Hi to engage the notches 9 and In in the arms of the basic hanger. When the hook members 15 and l 6 are fitted into the notches 9 and In the weight of the end extensions will bring the extensions into the proper position with the ends of the basic hanger fitting into the recesses I l and I2. It will be noted that the end extensions are rounded in contour and increase in size from top to bottom. This provides the shaping that is desired to properly support the shoulders of a mans coat.

Although the end extensions will normally fall into proper position and hang in place by their own weight, some means must be provided to prevent their accidental displacement in handling. The crossbar 4, common to most heavy hangers, is utilized for this purpose. The end extension 3 is provided with a bore I! just below the lower end of the recess [2. A small coiled spring I8 is carried in the bore, and one end of the crossbar seats in the bore and bears against the end of the spring I8. The other end 'extension 2 has a bore l9, similarly located to the bore IT in the end extension 3. A slot 20 is cut into one side. of the end extension 2, connected to the bore I9. The depth of the slot 20 is less than that of the bore l9 so that the bottom of the bore is closed on all sides forming a pocket 2| to receive the end of the crossbar 4.

The crossbar is put into position by first inserting one. end into the bore IT in the end extension 3 and compressing the spring until the oppo. v

site end of the crossbar may be inserted into the slot 20. The bar is then moved transversely in the slot until the end of the bar is aligned with the bore 20. Expansion of the spring 18 will force the bar into the pocket portion 2| of the bore l9 and hold it securely in position.

Due to the particular position of the notches 9 and ID in the basic hanger, the angle on which they are placed, and the curvature of the arms of the basichanger and the recesses in the end extensions, the extensions can only be removed ,by a combined outward and upward movement.

The notches 9 and I0 and the hook portions 1:5

and I6 of the end extensions are tapered so that although the two fit snugly when fully engaged,

the slightest movement of the end extensions loosens the hook portions so that the end extensions may have the necessary outward swing to separate them from the basic hanger. As the crossbar fits into the end extensions directly below the ends of the basic hanger, any movement of the end extensions will bring thecr'ossbar into contact with the end-of theb-asic han'ger, preventing movement ofthe end extensions. The'cross- .bar thus forms an effective lock-to prevent the parts of the assembled hanger from accidental separation. The crossbar, when'in place, serves its normal function of supporting folded trousers which are laid across it.

Although apreferredand practical embodiment of the invention has'been shown and described, it is understood that many changes maybe made from the precise structure shown without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

i What I claim is:

1. A garment hanger comprising a basic hanger having oppositely extending arms, the said arms having notches therein, and end extensions'having recesses undercut to form hook members, the said hook members adapted to engage the notches inthe basic. hanger andthe 1380858851130 receive the ends of the basic hanger arms to \removably support the end extensions upon the said basic hanger.

2. In a garment hanger as claimed in claim 1, means to lock said end extensions against acci- .dentaldisplacement from said basic hanger.

3. In a garment hanger as claimed in claim 1, one otsaid' end-extensions having a bore and the other said end extension having a slot terminating in a pocket, the pocket being of greater depth than -tlrieslot,and-a crossbar adapted to have its site ends seat respectively in said bore and said pocket, and an expansible member in said'bore to yieldingly hold saidcrossbarin said pocket.

' ALMA'LUCILLE 

